CHECKPOINT

Tomura Shigaraki opened his eyes. Fat lot of good that did him. He always turned the single lightbulb above his head off before going to bed. His room lacked any windows and a single shut and locked door for privacy. He was in the darkness.

He would continue to lay in his little bed waiting for his eyes to adjust to the non existent level of light. Then he would head downstairs to have breakfast and meet with Kurogiri and Master. Master would congratulate him on his success once again for killing All Might.

Tomura lurched out of bed, red eyes wide.

That was right. He was so exhausted from the memories yesterday. From everything that had happened at the USJ… he had forgotten.

All Might was dead. And he had killed him. He had really, actually done it…

Tomura rubbed at his eyes.

All Might was dead…

It seemed impossible. Even for him and he had done it. So what now?

He had wanted to kill the Symbol of Peace for so long now. It was supposed to be what made a difference. What stroke fear into the hearts of everybody. It was revenge for his Master's injuries. In a sense it was also a little bit of Tomura's own revenge for the crummy childhood.

Childhood. That's right…

Ever since Master had inducted Tomura as his apprentice, Tomura had forgotten the past. His childhood. Almost like everything had just been thrown away like dust in the wind. Unimportant.

He supposed that it was irrelevant at this point. It's not like the murder of his own family mattered in the grand scheme of everything.

But it still felt livid to Tomura. Like he had done the deed all over again. It was liberating.

His family was dead. All Might was dead.

Tomura laughed. He buckled over the side of the bed holding his stomach tight as he laughed away all the chains that had been holding him down.

They were all gone and dead.

Even his father.

The laughing came up short as Tomura realized something. "Father?" He whispered to no one. His eyes raked over the room in the limited darkness searching for that distinguishing outline.

When he found it he leapt for it. Landing on a couple of days old trash bags. On front of him on one of his shelves was a series of objects that brought him comfort whenever he was in distress.

The hands. The hands of his family.

He trailed a finger over each of them. Having done this a thousand times and more Tomura smiled at the familiar curves and rigid nails of each finger. This was his family.

Finally he found it. Father.

He leaned his head back like he had a thousand times before and gently placed the hand on his face just right. That's right. Everything was all right. His father was here. There was no need to seek comfort for there was nothing to feel anxious about. He had killed All Might. It was a simple fact that he would get over. He had killed his family. But his family was right here…

Tomura shuffled his feet across the floor until he found his chair. It was a short thing without any legs and the cushion for his rear and back were most pleasant whenever he sat in front of a screen for too long.

Tomura sat in his seat and glared at the ceiling.

The attack on the USJ had been a disaster. All of his villains had been grinded like fodder for those kids. Kids! That's all that they were and still his party couldn't handle them. Even his Nomu hadn't been capable of standing against All Might.

It had cost the League to acquire that many foot soldiers and even more so to lose such an investment. Tomura hated management games.

Tomura pressed the power button for both his television and his console. He knew better to shield his eyes from the bright light that would flash, showering a portion of the room in light. Light have been blinding if he hadn't closed his eyes.

Carefully with four fingers Tomura picked up a controller.

That's how he had to handle everything because of his quirk. It was his nature to destroy everything he touched with all five fingers. And now he could send out shockwaves of decay if he considered how he killed All Might. It wasn't anything new according to his memories he had done the same thing to erase his mother and grandparents.

Four fingers on the controller. Four fingers on a bar glass. Four fingers on his clothes

Four fingers on everything else he be left in a dusty mess.

Tomura selected the continue option when the game had finally booted up. He was far enough in to where he would need to be careful with how he spent his consumables. And conserve his gold.

He had read in the strategy guide that this was the part where resources would grow limited.

He hated resource management.

This was supposed to be an rpg.

Tomura scratched his neck in frustration. He looked over at his trash bags. Maybe he could decay just one of them… no. That would leave just another mess to clean up. So Tomura did not send any trash bags to Oblivion. Instead he resumed his neck scratching.

The League had killed All Might. That was for sure going to be in the headlines for the next couple of days. So that would score the League with some publicity. Recruitment should come easier with the League's name out there. And now, hopefully more than just ground fodder would be attracted. He killed All Might, surely that would attract the stronger more resilient sort. Finally he could get some party members that could take a couple hits and dish out some damage in turn. Maybe even capable of thinking for themselves. So long as they didn't get any idiotic ideas.

Tomura scratched his neck more fervently until the game loaded up revealing his avatar to be in the last position before he saved just hours before the attack on the USJ.

He had just killed the boss of the level and was stumped. Had been stumped. He was sure there was still something here. The guide had said so… but what was the point. If the boss was dead shouldn't he just move on to the next level? What could be more important than that?

Shouldn't he just read further ahead of the guide to figure out what exactly the item's use was to him?

Maybe…

Tomura eyes moved away from the screen and danced amongst his several book shelves. He knew he had the strategy guide for this game somewhere.

Martial arts techniques, cold. Modern heroes, cold. The minds of villains, cold. The minds of heroes, cold. Demon Slayer Reborn VII Walkthrough, warm. Streets of Superville: Villain Edition, there you are.

Tomura slid the slim book out with four fingers and sat back down in his chair. He opened up the guide and frowned. The futher he dug through the book the more concerned he grew. Until he came up with nothing. There was no mention of this mysterious item ever again.

So what the hell was the point of it?

Tomura scratched his throat in frustration.

Why mention something important if it was never brought up ever again?

Tomura reached under his television's stand and opened a can of soda. The monstrous sugar he slurped down his gullet was a short reprieve distracting himself from the game.

And then he flipped through the entire guide. Scouring each and every page. There was no more mention of this mysterious item and then the guide was no more.

"Fucking shit!" Tomura growled as his strategy guide collapsed before him into a pile of dust. "Fucking damn it!"

In his growing rage, Tomura grabbed onto his soda with all five fingers. Purposefully. It had been a mistake.

Soda spilled past the dust that could no longer hold the liquid.

Tomura cursed some more before grabbing at more things with five fingers until he was left with little piles of dust in his room. He swept the dust piles with his hands and arms until the soda had been covered completely. It wasn't a fix all patch but it would soak up the mess before it could spread further.

He glanced back to his screen realizing he had yet to make any progress since booting up the game.

Was he supposed to continue on? Or find this stupid Easter egg?

What if it was more than that though?

Tomura cursed his indecision. He cursed many things for the next couple of minutes. Frustration building over the edge.

He fell back into his cushioned seat and touched his father's hand. It was holding his face. Holding him together. It was family. Tomura was fine. Everything was fine. He didn't need the item. Not really. If it wasn't brought up for the rest of the game then it was inconsequential. Not like this hand. Not like father.

Tomura smiled. "I think I understand now," he giggled. If I focus on what could have been then I'll never focus on the future. Thank you, father."

Tomura Shigaraki was not crazy. He was just talking to his dead father's hand. Completely normal.

But Tomura didn't want to be normal. He wanted to be different. That was the point of all of this. The point behind the League's attack on the USJ. All Might's death. It was all to make a difference, to become something different from the rest of this normal loving society.

He almost growled. It came out as another giggle. Of course he was different. He had killed All Might! Who cared about some mystery item! All that mattered was finishing the game and moving on to the next level!

Several hours had passed him by when Tomura Shigaraki finally felt the ache in his stomach. He was out of energy and he needed to replenish. Tomura made sure to save his game before picking up all the trash that now littered his room. Dumped it all into a new trash bag and tied it up. It went with all of the other's, to the other side of the room.

Tomura left his father's hand on his face as he left for the stairs. Father was always so comforting and guiding. What would Tomura do without him?

As expected Kurogiri was behind the bar counter like always cleaning one of his shot glasses. Tomura swore that the damned thing never actually left the bar unless asked too. It was so stupidly unnerving and Tomura loathed to admit it. But the truth was there, always there in that misty pair of golden eyes that flickered with every motion. It was as if someone else was peering through those eyes, always watching and judging him…

Master's television was currently switched off. Tomura counted his blessings to which he had none. Tomura wasn't a fool. He had seen the released news footage and the moment of truth. If whatever news outlet leaked the security feed from the USJ legally, Tomura would give up his life of villainy right then and there.

Someone obviously cheated. Broke into the game's coding and found the script they weren't supposed to find. Tomura would give them bonus points for the good sniffing. But the damned sleuths went and released that script to the public eye!

Not that Tomura was displeased with the affair. He was ecstatic that the whole world got to watch him of all people eliminate the Symbol of Peace on replay. But by leaking that which should not have been seen…

They drew the unwanted attention of the heroes as well as Yuuei. Even if they had the footage released from three separate media outlets simultaneously, it wasn't hard to piece together that someone somewhere in one of those studios had a connection that was digging in places they should not have been. Especially a high school for up and coming heroes.

Tomura pulled up a bar stool and dropped onto it. Even now he felt like he was on a high that would never come down.

He had killed All Might!

And the world knew it too…

If Kurogiri noticed Tomura's abrupt bout of giggling he paid no mind. That alone fueled his mad laughter even further. "Kurogiri," he bit out in between his giggles. "Get me a soda!"

That got the thing's attention. The pseudo bartender that sported a black purple like abyss around himself turned to Tomura. "What flavor?"

"My favorite," Tomura tested.

Kurogiri nodded, or at least made an attempt.

"And don't use that piss excuse for watered sugar either! I hate generic."

"As you wish, Tomura Shigaraki."

"Scratch that," Tomura said, sounding bored. "I'm not in the mood for something soft." Tomura scratched at his neck once. Then twice. "Get me a whiskey."

Kurogiri moved away from where the soft drinks were sat below the counter and made for the cabinet. "How would you like it?"

Tomura waved his hand flippantly. "The usual."

Kurogiri once more attempted a nod. "Of course."

Tomura spun himself around on the stool. It was an easier way to distract himself. He hated waiting. He scratched the base of his skull reaching beneath his now white hair.

After a dozen or so spins Tomura carefully braced himself against the counter with four fingers. "I want some screenshots," Tomura announced.

"What of?"

"Each and every person who was on camera at the USJ, of course!" Tomura scoffed.

Kurogiri slid the drink over to Tomura and asked, "for what purpose?"

Tomura shrugged. "I want to make a note of those kids and their quirks, the teachers too."

"I thought you had already established a database of each and every member of the staff as well as the student body when you had infiltrated the school?"

Tomura scratched some more. "You can never have too much information, Kurogiri. And besides, the guidebook I found at Yuuei didn't include action shots."

"I see."

"But I also want to make a note of that green haired brat," Tomura growled. "Even after I had slain All Might that stupid kid tried to get a hit on me! Every single one of those snot nosed babies were cowering in fear. Even the damned teachers were at a loss. Everyone except for that stupid green haired brat. He was the only one who didn't fear me. Tell me, Kurogiri. How can I be the Symbol of Fear if there is still someone out there who doesn't?"

Kurogiri said nothing.

"Tomura swirled the ice in his drink around for a moment. "It pisses me off," he grumbled, lifting his chin up and taking a hard drink.

"Cheer up, young Tomura Shigaraki."

Tomura stopped, placed the iced drink down and swiveled around.

The television in the corner on the counter was now turned on. Kurogiri stood next to the damned thing.

"Give me one moment, Tomura Shigaraki," Kurogiri said as he warped away with his quirk.

Tomura ignored the mist made man. "I have plenty of cheer."

"Maybe," his Master said through the television. "Perhaps you are thrilled to have finally taken down All Might. I know I am. But that isn't all is it?"

Tomura glared down at the bar counter. "Sure I killed the Symbol of Peace, but what's next?"

"Excuse me?" All For One did not seem surprised.

"For so long All Might has been my final boss. And now I've beaten him. It just… it felt to easy."

"Easy?" All For One laughed thought the speaker. "I think not, young Tomura. Once I have entered mortal combat with that man. Do you know how many people have beaten me before All Might came along?"

Tomura shook his head.

"Zero. Not a single person had ever had the strength to best me, that or they were all too cowardly. No, young Tomura. If it had been easy to kill All Might I wouldn't be half dead."

Tomura was quick. "I meant no offense, Master!"

"Ah, none taken, young Tomura," All For One mused. "What of the Nomu I sent with you?"

Tomura resisted the urge to decay the entire counter. Instead, he scratched at his jaw. "All Might bested it. You should have seen it, Master. He was so strong! For a moment I thought the whole quest had been pointless!"

"Yet, you pulled through in the end." It sounded like his Master was smiling. Tomura wasn't sure how he knew it. He just thought that if he was in his Master's place, he too would be smiling.

"That Nomu had a regenerative quirk. Was it Eraserhead who helped All Might subdue the beast?" All For One ventured.

"No, Master. The Nomu dealt with Eraserhead first. All Might just knocked the damned thing high into the sky. There is no telling where he could be."

"Really?" A new voice had joined his Master's from the television. "That is a pity. That one had been one of my favorite little side projects. A worthy prototype." It was Doctor Garaki's voice.

"Which one?" All For One joked.

And the Doctor laughed…

It wasn't often that he heard either laugh. But he supposed that killing All Might had raised their spirits.

"A shame neither project worked out," All For One continued. "With that quirk I would have become truly invincible. No matter, what's done is done."

"Indeed, and like I said. That one was only a prototype. I have begun my experiments again, trying to finish my new project. The High End.

"Do keep me informed, Doctor."

"Do we have any more?" Tomura spoke up.

"I'm afraid not, Tomura." The Doctor actually sighed. "That one was one of a kind. But I do have other, lesser creatures. None of them could ever hope to hold a candle to the Nomu you lost. But we have a sufficient enough supply."

"Good, because I ran out of man power too."

The Doctor hummed. "We do have plenty of Nomu, but to replenish your army I'm afraid I am lacking in materials. Furthermore, time spent on refilling your vacant seats will distract me from the real work that needs to be done."

"Do not fret, either of you. Doctor, your work is important to me as well as the progress you have made. But do not forget that young Tomura will always come first. Tomura, the Doctor will be busy with the work I have tasked him with. Please do not abuse his time nor his gifts. Instead of looking towards what you already have, why don't you take the recruitment into your own hands?"

Tomura frowned. He had considered this earlier up in his room. He had wasted all of his fodder on Yuuei. He needed more for his dirty work. But if only the Doctor and Master could just give him the Nomu…

"I'll ask Giran about it," Tomura grumbled.

"Very well."

"However," Tomura started. "This won't be like last time."

"Oh?" All For One asked. "Do tell."

"Those criminals we hired for the assault were weak low leveled grunts. I was throwing them against kids who have been training their skills and teachers who have been grinding exp for years now. What I need are higher level villains. Elites that can take Eraserhead on in hand to hand. Villains who would put the top ten at a disadvantage. Instead of picking from the D List, I need to look from the S list."

There was a moment of silence. Then there was clapping. "Very well done, Tomura Shigaraki. You have realized that winning a single battle does not equal winning the war. You made a decisive blow to the heroes but in doing so you were dealt some in turn."

Tomura nodded to his Master's words.

"You want to know what comes next? I shall tell you, in due time."

Tomura frowned. "Why not tell me now?"

"Because we have made our move. And we must watch how the enemy reacts. That is the way of things."

There was something Tomura wanted to say, yet he held his tongue. If he knew what his overarching goal was. Which he did after thinking about it. He wanted to become the world's Symbol of Fear to replace All Might's Symbol of Peace. Why did they need to wait for the heroes to do anything at all?

After killing All Might. A good population of the world was already afraid of him. So what did he need to do to push that remaining populace over the edge? What made them feel safe even after All Might's death?

How should he know… he wasn't a damned NPC.

"I think I understand, Master."

Before All For One could reply to his apprentice, Kurogiri returned via his warping quirk. In one hand he held a tray of food. In the other, a photo in which he placed in front of Tomura.

"I figured you would have been hungry, so I brought you some food, Tomura Shigaraki."

Tomura took the tray with eight fingers and looked it over. It smelled fine. It looked fine. Tomura sat it down and picked up the photo.

There it was. The moment in captured in time that has been nagging at the back of Tomura's mind this entire time. The focus of the photo was the green haired boy charging towards Tomura. Underneath a name scribbled in pen, "Izuku Midoriya."

"Izuku," Tomura began sounding the name out loud. "Midoriya."

"What was that?" All For One asked.

"Just this brat who tried to kill me." Tomura shook his head. "Izuku Midoriya, I remember reading his file at Yuuei. His quirk was called, 'Superpower.' Gave him enhanced strength. Damned kid could throw a punch. Kind of felt like All Might to be honest."

"Really now?" All For One was intrigued.

Tomura nodded knowing that through the few cameras installed into the bar, his Master could see the gesture. And not only could his Master look through the camera lenses, so too could the Doctor.

"Midoriya," the Doctor was quiet, thoughtful. "Name sounds familiar. I don't ever forget one of my patient's. And I only treat the quirkless."

All For One was quiet.

Tomura was not. "Quirkless. Damned brat nearly killed me of it wasn't for the Nomu blocking his punch. So much for being heroic."

"No," I remember this kid all right." The Doctor chuckled through the speaker. "Most kids generally aren't happy to hear the bad news. But this kid, he took to it worse than anyone I've ever had come into my office. Now over the many many years that I have worked as a Doctor for the quirkless, I have dealt with thousands of patients. But that boy, right there. That broken look in his eyes. I'll never forget that moment. Not now and certainly not for another fifty years."

All For One was laughing once again. "Oh, All Might! You great fool! I knew you had passed it on, but to yet another quirkless kid? Absolutely weak of you, I expected better honestly. Doctor, send me over everything you have on this, boy."

Kurogiri broke the script. It wasn't rare that the thing added it's own thoughts to conversations. But it was weird. "What is so special about this boy in particular. Izuku Midoriya?"

"Why Kurogiri," All For One addressed him. "I do believe that, young Tomura has discovered the ninth holder."

"I see."

Whilst this whole conversation had taken place. Tomura had been chowing down. Replenishing his survival values. He hated survival games, they were so tedious. Finally finishing, Tomura stood from the bar. "Master," he called over. "I am going back to my room."

"Do as you wish, Tomura." All For One was a relaxed parental guardian. Not at all like some parents Tomura had read about online. "And do not worry about the near future too much. Leave the scheming, to me."

Tomura started up the stairs back to his room. Tomura Shigaraki had only beaten the first level. There were many more to come. The game was not over, it had only just begun.

AN: This chapter was rushed. Woke up to no shame in the middle of the night and thought I would make an attempt to finish it. I think its done, really tired now. Going to take a little nap before work. If there are errors I will fix them later tonight. Hope you guys are enjoying the fic so far and good night! Or morning rather... what is the correct way to signal you wish to sleep in the morning? Anyways, until next time!